Nico Williams's refusal to leave Athletic Club, confirmed by his contract renewal, has forced Barça to readjust its transfer plan. With the winger off the radar, Deco has once again focused on one of the most favored names, which is Luis Díaz. The Colombian meets all the conditions the club is looking for to strengthen the wings.
His profile fits perfectly with the attacking style Flick wants to instill at Barça, and he has been on Deco's agenda for some time as a top priority option. With plan A already ruled out, the Colombian has become the number one target.
Liverpool won't let him go, but the player is pushing
The main problem, however, is that Liverpool has no intention of selling him. Despite the rumors and Barça's interest, the English club has made it clear that Luis Díaz is key to its squad and is not for sale. This greatly complicates the operation, both from an economic standpoint and in terms of negotiation timing.
Even so, Barça isn't giving up. The player's willingness could be decisive, and in this case, Luis Díaz would be more than ready to take the step. That personal predisposition is an asset the Catalan club wants to use to try to force a negotiation with the "reds".
Rashford also presents himself as a viable option
Meanwhile, Deco and his team are working with other names on the list in case the signing of Luis Díaz ultimately proves unfeasible. One of the names that has been making the most noise in recent weeks is Marcus Rashford. The Manchester United player has been persistently offering himself to Barça.
Rashford wants to come to Barça and is doing everything possible to put himself in the shop window. Although he isn't the first option, his availability, versatility, and experience in European soccer make him an interesting alternative for a squad that needs attacking depth. In addition, he'd be willing to adjust his financial terms to adapt to the club's financial reality.
Leao, the dream that won't disappear
In addition to Luis Díaz and Rashford, there's another name that continues to hover over the offices and that's Rafael Leao. According to El Nacional, Joan Laporta hasn't completely ruled out the possibility of trying to sign him. The Milan forward is a long-standing desire of the president, who has always valued his power, technique, and ability to decide big matches.
Signing Leao would undoubtedly be the most complicated due to the high cost it would entail. However, Barça knows the market is long and opportunities may arise. Meanwhile, Leao's name remains there, like a dream that refuses to die.